Gut Microbiota and Health Conditions

Gut microbiota, gut bacteria, gut microbiome, gut bugs…all terms thrown around like wild fire in the world of nutrition and science at present. Gut health is certainly becoming the latest health trend, and for good reason! If you aren’t familiar with gut microbiota, or need a bit of a recap, check out our recent article on gut microbiota before reading on.

As Hippocrates famously once said, health begins in the gut. It certainly does, with a well-balanced and diverse microbiota being linked with various positive health outcomes. Consequently, poor gut health has been associated with multiple health conditions.

Gut Health Terminology

Hopefully you have gone back and read the article as suggested. However, I’m sure there will be a few keen readers that skipped this, so here is some key terminology to note:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

As many readers will know, IBS is a condition involving changes in bowel habits and gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. stomach cramps and bloating). In Australia, approximately 1 in 5 individuals suffer from IBS. Whilst there needs to be more research done, it appears individuals with IBS have an altered faecal microbiota compared to those without IBS. Faecal microbiota may predict how well someone will respond to a low FODMAP diet, which could be an exciting option in the future for determining effective treatment strategies. Bacteria in the small intestine may also play a role in IBS, but evidence on the specific role(s) it plays remains unclear. Including gut microbiota as a target for IBS management is an important area of research being studied, so watch this space!

Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where blood glucose (sugar) levels become too high. This occurs because the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin, the body becomes insulin resistant, or both. Insulin is a hormone which the pancreas normally produces after eating a meal containing carbohydrate. Insulin will bring our blood glucose levels down and keep them stable. The two main forms of diabetes are Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). There is also Gestational Diabetes, which can occur during pregnancy. In Australia, approximately 1.2 million people suffer from diagnosed diabetes – most commonly T2D (85%).

Some of the factors associated with the development of diabetes include diet, genetics and interestingly the gut microbiota. Evidence shows that dysbiosis contributes to insulin resistance/dysfunction, and that the gut microbiome composition is different between individuals with and without diabetes. This suggests that gut microbiota has potential as a future therapeutic target in the management of both T1D and T2D.

Obesity

In Australia over 60% of adults are overweight or obese. There are a complexity of factors contributing to this including diet, physical activity, genetics, sleep and stress. Additionally, it now seems our gut microbiota could also play a role. Research has found gut microbiota could be a contributing factor to the development of obesity, due to its proposed role in regulating fat storage and dysbiosis.

There are various possible mechanisms by which gut microbiota may influence obesity. These theories include through a higher capacity to harvest more energy from the diet (i.e. obese microbiota store more fat from food), through increasing insulin resistance, and by promoting inflammation. We need more research to better understand the extent by which gut microbiota contributes to energy balance and obesity. This will help determine the potential of manipulating gut microbiota as a future treatment option for overweight and obesity.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

CVD is an umbrella term for all diseases involving the heart and blood vessels – commonly known as heart disease. In Australia, the most common types of CVD are stroke, coronary heart disease and heart failure. One in six Aussies suffer from CVD, and it remains a leading cause of death in Australia. Given the rates of CVD, the interaction between the gut microbiota and the heart has gained increased scientific interest.

Research has shown the composition and ratio of specific gut bacteria has changed (i.e. dysbiosis) during the development of CVD. This change in the gut microbiota of CVD patients appears to be more pro-inflammatory. Current evidence supports that an association between the gut microbiota and CVD exists, however, the exact relationship remains unclear. Gut microbiota does seem to hold potential as a therapeutic target in the future management of CVD.

Rheumatoid Arthritis/Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

Rheumatoid/Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis are all painful inflammatory conditions which involve structural changes of bone and cartilage. What we eat can impact the inflammation which contributes to the pain experienced in these conditions. This is likely due to the impact of diet on gut microbiota – as dysbiosis is associated with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Imbalances of specific bacteria have been associated with individuals with arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. As a result, the theory of manipulating gut bacteria through diet to help manage these conditions has been proposed. Unfortunately, there are no established methods for manipulating the gut microbiome to treat these conditions…yet. However, research does suggest the potential to maintain and/or improve gut microbiota diversity and health through various means – particularly diet.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

MS is an autoimmune disease which affects the Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord). Over 25,000 Australians suffer from MS, and experience different symptoms depending on what areas of the nervous system contain MS lesions. In recent years, studies have found dysbiosis to be common among individuals with MS for certain microbe populations. There also appears to be a link between gut bacteria and MS severity. As a result, recent research has shown the use of probiotics may be effective in improving the gut bacteria profile for MS patients. Whilst it is still very much early days, research at present shows targeting gut microbiota could be effective in contributing to MS treatment.

Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD is an umbrella term for conditions involving chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Almost 75,000 Australians suffer from CD or UC. Common symptoms of IBD include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Recent studies have identified that gut microbiota may influence both the onset and exacerbation of IBD. There is a characteristic dysbiosis seen in many individuals with IBD, and consequently some studies show the use of probiotics may be effective in disease management. The possibility of manipulating gut microbiota as a therapeutic target for IBD is currently an exciting area of research underway.

Depression and Anxiety

Depression and Anxiety are very common mental health conditions. In Australia, approximately 1 million adults will experience depression and 2 million will experience anxiety in any one year. Research has shown a relationship exists between the gut microbiota and mental health. Dysbiosis and inflammation of the gut have been associated with various mental health disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. It also appears the gut microbiota can influence various psychological processes including mood and emotion. Research highlights that a healthy gut microbiome is particularly important for individuals suffering from depression and/or anxiety. As a result, findings show probiotics may be effective in improving symptoms of depression and anxiety. Like with all conditions discussed, more research is required before gut microbiota can be considered as a therapeutic target for depression and anxiety treatment.

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